Nov 20, 2017

Rumson-Fair Haven American Youth Football 11U Squad Shuts out Middletown

The Rumson-Fair Haven (RFH) 11U American Youth Football squad used a myriad of offensive weapons in a pivotal home game versus the Middletown Eagles, with no less than seven running backs seeing action. However, it was a punishing defense that clinched the 24-0 victory and produced all the points of the second half.

RFH took the opening kickoff and wasted no time lighting the scoreboard. On the second snap of the day, running back Brody Page went left and picked up a block from Conor Delaney at the corner, then sprinted 62 yards along the near sideline for a touchdown. Middletown would sample the Dawg defense on the following series, when Koury Dowd forced a fumble and made the recovery at midfield.

The next opportunity for RFH came when Matt “Mad Dog” Smith broke through the line and tackled the Eagle punter at the 14 yard line before he could get the kickoff. Running back Page ran for 11 yards and, on the next play, Luke Marascio took it over from the three yard line for the score to complete the short two-play drive. Quarterback Jackson Gallagher bootlegged in the extra point for a 14-0 advantage.

Later in the second quarter, a RFH march stalled at the Eagles 31 yard line with a fourth and long. QB Jackson Gallagher went to the air and found wide out Aiden Coar. Coar hauled in the aerial at the seven yard line, broke a tackle, and danced into the end zone with 3:45 left in the first half. The 20-0 advantage held up to the halftime break.

The only scoring of the second half was put up by the Dawg defense via a pair of safeties. Midway through the third quarter, Middletown stopped a RFH drive and took over on downs at their own nine yard line. On the first play of the ensuing series, Luke Marascio sacked the Eagles quarterback at the three yard line. On the next snap, Cooper Bunnell sacked the quarterback in the end zone for a safety. Later in the fourth quarter, Aiden Coar and Zach “Jumbo” Factor broke through the line in tandem and tackled the scrambling quarterback in the end zone for the final points of the game.